Do You Install Baseboards Before Or After Flooring

Baseboards are often installed before flooring since they must be finished in place with either stain or paint and this is much easier without worrying about staining the hardwood tile or carpet.

Do you install baseboards before or after flooring.

When installing baseboards before carpet ask the installer how large of a gap to leave between the floor and the trim e g. Touch up paint and caulk where needed. No baseboards do not need to be removed. Interior doors and trim all should be done before the flooring.

The carpet installer can run the tack strip up to the trim then roll excess carpet under the trim. So unless you are going to buy a special cutter looks like a large paper cutter you are going to want to hide that cut edge. Not taking them out starts the job faster but then after your install there will be quarter round regret because of point 1. The baseboards should be primed and painted with one coat.

Spot prime and then add another coat of paint to baseboards because it lessens the chances that something happens to your floors since now you only have to spot prime and add one. Our painter stainer has insisted that all baseboards and casings be in place before the flooring is installed and only then he does the actual painting. Dh is a commercial gc and apparently they do it the opposite ie. The baseboards are then installed to cover the gap.

Take the baseboards out freshen them up while you are at it install floor pop baseboards back. Flooring goes in before baseboards so there are no gaps and as a typ.